Board Game about Principles of Democracy and Politics

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus and method for playing an educational and recreational game about principles of democracy and politics is disclosed. The game includes a board, member certificates as well as a first set of cards about key aspects necessary for the function of a democratic society, which bear instructions to be enacted by the players and a second set of cards elated to spaces in which players will create political organizations and support democracy pillars, these cards also bear specific instructions to be enacted by the players. The game includes moving a player piece along a path of movement on the game board. A booklet including topical questions for educational purpose may also be provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to board games, and moreparticularly to an educational and entertaining board game for teachingprinciples of democracy and politics and providing an overview offundamental factors that interact in a democratic society.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Political strategy games and presidential election games are known inthe art. Generally, these games are electronic games with a complexinternal model that may represent the population of specific states orcountries; these games are directed toward young adults with specificinterest in politics, making them unsuitable for younger students. Dueto the complexity of these games they fail to engage players in a mannerthat focus on the basic principles of democracy, thus failing to makethe understanding and retention of such principles both easy andentertaining.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a game-board basedapparatus for teaching principles of democracy and politics andproviding an overview of the main factors that interact in a democraticsociety, teaching concepts related to civil society, economy, the media,the branches of power that provide balance to democratic governments,the development and support of political institutions, and a number oftypical outcomes of judicial processes in democratic societies. The gameis suitable for inclusion in teaching students in classroomenvironments. The game can be used as a teaching tool or played asentertainment by individuals with various levels of knowledge andskills.

The game is specially configured to help players learn and perceive theunity and interconnection of the fundamental principles and institutionsnecessary for the function of a democratic society. It encouragesplayers to further inquire about political, economic, and societalconcepts.

The game rewards attitudes compatible with democratic principles andvalues and penalizes those amply perceived as anti-democratic. Itpromotes concepts related to civic and political participation in thedemocratic process and promotes principles of tolerance, solidarity,creativity, justice, and public good interests among others.

A workbook comprising concepts and questions for stimulating thought andfurthering learning about civic participation in the politicaldemocratic process of modern societies may also be provided.

A method of playing a game in accordance with the present inventioninvolves: creating organizations and developing them following the rulesand principles of democracy. Players form political parties and supportorganizations that constitute democracy pillars. The goal of the game isto gain as many members as possible. To form a party requires players todedicate members to have control of number-groups divided into threeareas: Platform, Registration and Convention. Once a player has controlof these three areas from a given group, the player chooses a set ofpieces that identify said group as a particular party, which isdetermined by the player. Subsequently the player can evenly establishup to three candidates on each area. Once a player has established threecandidates on each area, these candidates may become elected leaders,one on each space. As a next step, the candidate on the convention areacan be nominated as the main party leader. The main way to gain membersis by controlling available spaces and creating and developingorganizations and receiving new members whenever players land on thesecontrolled spaces. The goal of controlling spaces is to gain membersfrom opponents landing on said spaces. The number of members gained issubstantially increased by the election of party candidates, electedleaders, and a main party leader. As a result, one of the main goals isto establish first, party candidates, and next elected leaders and amain party leader in some of the exclusively controlled groups orthrough alliances. When necessary, a player may increase the number ofmembers by giving up control of spaces back to the public. CivilSociety, The Media, Economy, and Branches of Powers spaces give theopportunity to draw a corresponding card. Player must enact instructionson the card. Players may enter a Judicial Process when they land onEnter Judicial Process, as instructed by a card, or as a result ofthrowing doubles three times in a row. The content on the cardsrepresent a diverse and interesting interplay of events and actions thattake place in the life of a democratic society. When a player does nothave enough members to fulfill commitments entailed by the game theplayer becomes politically “bankrupt”. When this happens the player mustyield all resources to The Public according to the rules, and retirefrom the game. The Winner is the last player left in the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example withreference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game board in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A-2D is a plan view of exemplary playing cards of a type usedrelated to Branches of Powers spaces, Civil Society, The Media, andEconomy;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an exemplary card of a type used for JudicialProcess outcome;

FIGS. 4A-4C are plan views of exemplary playing cards of a type used inrelation to Number-Groups divided into three areas: Platform,Registration and Convention.

FIGS. 5A-5E are plan views of Member Certificates for differentquantities;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an exemplary game piece of the type used toindicate when a political organizations is created;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an exemplary game piece of the type used whenpolitical candidates and party leaders are established;

FIG. 8-9 is a plan view of an exemplary player piece and six sided dice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention may allow for variations in therules of play.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the game boardapparatus includes a game board with a path of movement on said gameboard displaying number-group spaces each one representing three stepsrelated to the creation of a political organization (platform,registration, convention); democracy pillar spaces (rule of law & humanright protection, free press and free elections, economic freedom, andcivic capital & social support networks); spaces related to a subset ofcards that includes: civic society, the media, the economy, branches ofpower, and judicial process outcome; spaces related to the judicialsystem (enter judicial process, judicial process, prison term), andadditional spaces that include: nonviolent protest, volunteer, rewardfor the defense of democratic principles, and new ideas.

The game apparatus also includes one set of cards for piles on the boardcenter related to said spaces on the path of movement: civic society,the media, the economy, branches of power, and judicial process outcome.Each subset includes cards with specific instructions corresponding toeach one of said groups. More than one set of cards with instruction maybe provided for use according to player's preference.

The game apparatus also include number-groups cards, memberscertificates, tokens, pieces representing political organizations, gamepieces of different colors representing candidates, party leaders, andelected leaders, a set of two six sided dice, and instructions is alsoprovided.

Exemplary Game Play Overview

The plan of the game is to create organizations and develop themfollowing the rules and principles of democracy. Players form politicalparties and support institutions recognized as democracy pillars. Thegoal of the game is to gain as many members as possible. To form a partyrequires players to dedicate members to have control of number-groupsdivided into three areas: platform, registration and convention. Once aplayer has control of these three areas from a given number-group, theplayer chooses a set of pieces that identify the group as a particularpolitical organization or party, which is determined by the player.Subsequently the player can evenly establish up to three candidates oneach area. Once a player has three candidates on each area, thesecandidates may become elected leaders, one on each space. Next, thecandidate on the convention area may be nominated as the main partyleader. The main way to gain members is by creating and developingorganizations and receiving new members whenever players land on thesecontrolled spaces.

Beginning from “Go” players move tokens clockwise around the boardaccording to throw of dice and specific instructions. When a player'stoken lands on a space not already controlled, the player may dedicatemembers to gain control of it by committing to “the public” the amountof members shown on the board. The goal of controlling a space is togain members from opponents landing on said space. The number of membersgained is substantially increased by the election of party candidates,elected leaders, and a main party leader. As a result, one of the maingoals is to establish first, party candidates, and then elected leadersand next a main party leader in some of the exclusively controlledgroups or through Alliances. When necessary, a player may increase thenumber of members by giving up control of spaces back to “the public”.However, the player only receives in return half the amount of membersthat were initially committed to “the public”.

Civil society, the media, economy, and branches of powers spaces givethe opportunity to draw a corresponding card. Players must enactinstructions on the card. Players may enter a judicial process when theyland on “enter judicial process”, as instructed by a card, or as aresult of throwing doubles three times in a row. The content on thecards represent a diverse group of events, new, and statements withsignificant social and political implications, which take place in thelife of a democratic society.

When a player does not have enough members to fulfill commitmentsentailed by the game the player becomes politically “bankrupt”. Whenthis happens the player must yield all resources to “the public”according to the rules, and retire from the game. The winner is the lastplayer left in the game.

A Party can only have one representation on the board, in one of thenumber-groups. However, a player can found more than one party. Thegroup of two or more parties controlled by a player form a coalition.When another player lands on a space controlled by a coalition and saidcoalition does not have established party candidates or elected leaders,said player must contribute twice the number of members normallyrequired when landing on said space, as shown on the group card.However, once candidates are established there is no different between asingle party and a coalition concerning the contribution required forlanding on said spaces.

A coalition may also include an alliance. Two or more players may agreeto form an alliance within any number-group in which they have completecontrol between them. Each player participating in the alliance may thendedicate members to raise candidates and leaders for the group theycontrol in common as long as they follow rules for doing so evenly. Analliance cannot be created without establishing candidates. A player mayleave the Alliance between dice rolls, forcing all players in thealliance to resign to all of their candidates or leaders. They receivein return from “the public” half the members originally committed toestablishing said candidates.

Players put the civil society, the media, economy, branches of powers,and judicial process outcome cards face down on their specified spaceson the board. Each player receives one token that will move clockwisearound the board as each player throws the dice on each turn. Eachplayer receives a hand of members from “the public”. “The public”controls the rest of the elements required for the game. One of theplayers is elected as public representative. The public representativemust keep his own member certificates and cards separate from those of“the public”.

“The public” contains member certificates, group cards, democracy pillarcards, as well as party candidates, elected leaders, and the main partyleaders when not used by the players.

“The public” receives from the players the members they commit to thefoundation and support of organizations and those required as result ofvarious penalties. “The public” is also a source of new members, partycandidates, elected leaders, and main party leaders. It regulates thedifferent social “transactions” that take place during the game. At anytime a player can give up control of candidates, leaders, and spaces.“The public” will at any time receive back leaders, candidates, andcards and return to the player half the number of members the player hadoriginally committed to those elements. “The public” is entitled toreceive members from the players as a result of commitments andpenalties. “The public” contains a number of members sufficient for allnecessary actions that take place during the course of the game.

Following the rules of the game a player is entitled to take control ofa particular space where the player's token lands. In case anotherplayer already controls it, members are lost to that player as shown onthe number-group or democracy pillar card.

Each time a token lands on or passes over “go” the player receives newmembers as a result of completing a cycle of social and politicalactivities, as specified in the rules.

When a player lands on a Space that is not controlled by another player;the player has the option of controlling said space. In order to controla space a player has to commit to “the public” the number of membersshown on the board. “The public” provides a card as proof. This cardcontains information regarding the number of members gained when anotherplayer lands on said space. The player shows the group card or democracypillar card face-up, indicating a visible public commitment.

When a Player declines taking control of a space, a vote takes placesand “the public” offers players the opportunity to commit members andobtain control of the space. The player who commits the highest numberof members obtains control. All votes are done by players writing down anumber of members and then showing in unison. Any player, including theone who initially declined the option of taking control based on thenumber printed on the board, may participate in the vote. Players canoffer any number of members as allowed by member certificate numbers.

When a player lands on a space controlled by other player the player whocontrols it receives members in agreement with the list printed on thecard. The number of members received depends of how developed theorganization is.

The more democracy pillars the player is committed to the more membersthe player receives when other players land on said spaces.

A player enters a judicial process by: (a) landing on space designatedas “enter judicial process”; (b) drawing a specific card; (c) throwingdoubles three times in a row.

Visiting judicial system: if a player does not fulfill the criteriaestablished in [035] but in the course of the play reaches the “judicialprocess” space, the player is just visiting and the player continues thegame normally.

A Player that enters a judicial process must take a card from the“judicial process outcome” pile and follow instructions. While goingthrough a judicial process a player may establish party candidates andleaders, receive new members from other players, etc.

A player may only go the serve “prison term” as a result of a judicialprocess. When sent to serve “prison term” a player misses the next turn.After missing a turn, the player then throws the dice and continues thegame but not without losing 1000 members. This penalty does not applywhen throwing doubles. A player may not establish candidates and leadersor gain new members while serving prison term. A player may no form analliance while serving prison term.

Party candidates come only from “the public”, not from other players.Party candidates can only be established on spaces of a completenumber-group, which the player controls, or through an alliance withanother player or players.

A Player must have three candidates on each space from a number-groupbefore he can establish an elected leader. Said player can establish oneelected leader per space for a total of three. Establishing each electedleader requires committing to “the public” the number of members shownon the group-card. At the same time, candidates are returned to “thepublic”. It is advantageous to have candidates and even more electedleaders, as a more developed organization will attract more membersaccording to the rules of the game.

One of the elected leaders, always the one at the convention space, canbecome the main party leader. The party leader attracts the largernumber of members, which number is shown on the correspondinggroup-card.

Controlled number-group spaces can be exchanged between players forother number-group spaces, for member or for members and spaces, withoutintervention from “the public”. Party candidates, elected leaders, andthe main party leader cannot be exchanged. Spaces from a givenumber-group cannot be exchanged if party candidates or leaders havealready been established. Said spaces would have to be released back to“the public” before spaces can be exchanged.

Party candidates and leaders, including the main party leader can bereleased back to “the public” at any time. Players receive half thenumber of members that were initially committed to establish said partycandidates and leaders.

A player who does not have enough members to fulfill the gamerequirements becomes politically “ruined”. As a result, the player mustyield all resources to “the public” and to any “creditors”, and retirefrom the game. If the player has an organization with party candidatesor leaders said party candidates or leaders are returned to “the publicin exchange for members to the extent of half the amount previouslycommitted to develop the organization. “The public” returns said membersto the “creditor”. When a player does not have enough members to give asrequired by “creditor”, the player may give up a combination of membersplus group-cards or democracy pillars cards. When a player cannotfulfill the game obligations even by releasing back to “the public” hisparty candidates, leaders, group-cards, and democracy pillar cards, “thepublic” takes over all his political assets and the layer retires fromthe game. The winner is the last player left in the game.

Further, it will be noted that the game play of the present inventionmay be implemented as a computer game. Said computer game may be playedon a general-purpose computer. As an example, the computer programmingcode may be embodied in computer readable media capable of configuring acomputer to implement some of all of the game play methodology describedabove. In one embodiment, a human may play against a computer, whichwill play the game in substitute for one or more other human players, asgenerally known in the art. The computer game may also be configured tobe played by multiple human players. Said players may use computerscommunicating via a communications network, as generally known in theart.

While there have been described herein the principles of the invention,it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this depictionis made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope ofthe invention. Consequently, it is intended by the appended claims, tocover all modifications of the invention, which fall within the truespirit, and scope of the invention.

1. A game apparatus comprising a game board displaying a path ofmovement including spaces showing the following: steps for establishingpolitical organizations, democracy pillars, and a series of spaces thatindicate players either to take specific actions or obtain cards withinstructions related to key aspects for the function of a democraticsociety; and member certificates; and “the public” as the source ofmembers certificates; and a first set of cards about key aspectsnecessary for the function of democratic society; and a second set ofcards related to the creation of political organizations and support ofdemocracy pillars; said game includes moving a player piece along a pathof movement on the game board.
 2. The game apparatus of claim 1, eachcard of said set of playing cards further displaying text indicatingaspects related to the function of a democratic society including thefollowing subset of cards: civil society, economy, the media, branchesof power, and judicial process outcome.
 3. The game apparatus of claim1, further comprising: a set of cards related to the spaces in whichplayers take steps to either create political organizations and supportdemocracy pillars, these cards bear specific instructions to be enactedby the players.
 4. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gameboard further displays numbers identifying groups of spaces in whichplayers take steps to create political organizations.
 5. The gameapparatus of claim 1, wherein said member certificates show differentnumbers of members.
 6. The game apparatus of claim 1, further comprisinga plurality of game pieces with traditional party colors used by playersto indicate the creation of political organizations.
 7. The gameapparatus of claim 1, further comprising set of game pieces to representon the game board the election of party candidates, elected leaders, andmain party leaders.
 8. A method of playing a board game comprising: agame kit including a game board displaying spaces showing steps for thecreation of political organizations and the support of democracypillars, said spaces showing group identifying numbers, said game boardshowing democracy pillars, said game board also indicating when playersshould draw cards with specific instructions, said cards including asubset of cards related to civil society, economy, the media, branchesof power, and judicial process outcome; said game kit providingadditional cards, said additional cards comprising one card for eachnumber-group and for democracy pillars, each card of said set of cardsproviding details related to the development of political parties andthe support of democracy pillars and the subsequent implications; saidgame kit including “the public”, which contains member certificates,group cards, democracy pillar cards, as well as party candidates,elected leaders, and main party leaders when not used by the players,said “the public” provides a respective hand of certificates with anumber of members for each of a plurality of players, and passing playamong the players, each player in turn, committing members to thecontrol of spaces required for the formation and support of politicalinstitutions represented by said political organizations and democracypillars, creating political parties, and establishing party candidatesand leaders; and drawing a card from said subset of cards when landingon related spaces; and returning said card face down to the bottom ofthe same pile; when a player does not have enough members to fulfillcommitments entailed by the game the player abandons the game, saidplayer must yield all resources to the public, and retire from the gamebeing the winner the last player left in the game.
 9. The game boardapparatus of claim 1, further comprising printed instructions includingtext describing play of a game in accordance with the method of claim 8.